Coptic Slide Show
The word COPT derives from the ancient Egyptian word HI KA PTAH meaning house
of spirit PTAH. According to ancient Egyptians PTAH was the god who molded
people out of clay and gave them the breath of life which relates to the
original creation of man. The Greeks changed the name to Aigyptios which
contained the word GYPT in the middle.
The Arabs called Egypt DAR EL GYPT which means house of GYPT and changing the
g to q in writing. Originally all Egyptians were called GYPT or QYPT, but
after Islam carne to Egypt in the seventh century the word became synonymous
with Christian Egyptians. The word MISR according to tradition derives from
MIZRA-IM who was the son of HAM son of NOAH, and it was MIZRA-IM and his
descendants who populated the land of Egypt.
The Coptic language and writing is the last form of the ancient Egyptian
language, the first being Hieroglyphics, Heratic and lastly Demotic. Scribes
started transliterating Egyptian signs in Greek adding seven extra letters
from the Demotic alphabet to accommodate the sounds for which there were do
Greek letters:
Shay Phay Khay houry janja tsheema tee
The emergence of this new script cannot be dated precisely but some
inscriptions survived dating to the Kushite dynasty (750-656 B.C.)
According to honored tradition, St. Mark brought Christianity to Egypt in the
first century (61 A.D.). St. Mark's first convert was a Jewish shoemaker in
Alexandria by the name of Anianos.
Although Egypt before the Christian era was a pagan country, there was a
stream of traditional thought and belief that prepared the way for the
Christian message to spread and flourish.
An Egyptian text known as the Insinger Papyrus shows a certain continuity of
thought, deeply rooted in the tradition, is the belief of a world creator who
was also a creator of order in nature.
When people raise their hands the god knows it. He knows the impious man who
thinks of evil. He knows the godly man and that he has the greatness of god
in his heart He gives good judgment through the counsel which no one knows.
He creates abundant value without there being a store house behind him. It is
he who makes the way safe without there being a guard. It is he who gives the
just law without there being a judgment The hidden work of god, he makes it
known on the earth daily. He created light and darkness.... He created the
earth, begetting millions... He created day, month, year.... He created
summer and winter.... He created food before those who are alive, the wonder
of the fields. He created the breath in the egg where is no access to it. He
created sleep to end weariness. He created remedies to end illness. Great is
the counsel of the god in putting one thing after another. The fate and
fortune that come, it is the god who sends them.
(Papyrus Insinger, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Lichtheim, M., Vol. III,
P184f.)
(Akhenaten's hymn is specially remarkable, it dates back to 1,355 years before
Christianity).
When thou dost set in the western horizon.
The earth is in darkness. like to
death... Every lion has come forth from
his lair, All the reptiles bite.
(AKHENATEN'S HYMN)
Thou appointest darkness, that it may be
night. In which all the beast. of the
forest prowl; The young lions roaring for
their prey. To seek their food from god.
(PSALM 104: 20-21)
How manifold m that which thou hast made.
Hidden from view! Thou sole god, there is
no other like thee! Thou didst create the
earth according to the will being alone.
(AKHENATEN'S HYMN)
How manifold are thy works, O Yahweh! All
of them thou hast made by wisdom. The
earth is full of the creations.
(PSALM 104 : 24)
The first important institution of religious learning in Christian antiquity
was the Catechetical School in Alexandria. It was founded by Pantaenus, a
Christian scholar. The school was not only limited to theology. Science,
mathematics and humanities were taught there. Some of the most famous scholars
and teachers of this school were Clement and Origen.
By the third century, a new thought was developed thousands of anchorites -
ascetics were living either alone or in groups and a large monastic movement
was in full gear. Among the first were St. Anthony and St. Paul, they were
followed by others who became pillars of monasticism; among them St.
Macarius, St. Pachaum, St. Moses the Black and others.
Christianity was recognized as the official religion in Egypt and throughout
the Roman Empire around 312 AD Several ecumenical councils took place, among
them the Council of Nicea in 325, the Council of Ephesus in 431 and lastly the
Council of Chalcedon in 451 which resulted in the separation of the Egyptian
(Coptic Church) from both the Byzantine and the Western (Latin) Churches
forever. Creating two Christian families: one called the United Orthodox
family represented by Syrian, Armenian, Indian, Ethiopian and Egyptian
churches and the other known as the Byzantine represented by Greek, Ukrainian,
Bulgarian and Romanian churches.
Egypt was conquered by the Arabs in 641 AD, the Copts deeply hostile to
Byzantine rule gave support to the conquer- ors. The Arabs were at first
indifferent to the Copts and tolerant of their religion. But by the eighth
century, increased taxation on non-Muslims and prohibitive fees for the right
to construct and rebuild churches evoked resentment. Also dur- ing that
time. many of the Coptic paintings and frescoes were destroyed. Non payment of
taxes was enforced by severe penalties and more Copts were forced to accept
Islam. By the ninth century Islam had gained predominance.
During the Al-Hakim reign, many churches and monasteries were destroyed and
Christian were severely and violently persecuted. In the Fatimid period. (969
- 1171 AD). Egypt enjoyed a great era of prosperity and the Coptic church
flourished.
The Fatimid's sympathetic attitude toward the Copts was expressed among other
things in the employment of Copts in the government and their own
participation in the Christian feasts.
But more significant is the reconstruction and adornment of Churches and
Monasteries in Fatimid times and new heights in Coptic a artistic expression
were reached, especially in monastic centers in middle and Upper Egypt.
Coptic art owes a great debt to two main sources, the classical and ancient
Egypt. Old Cairo was inhabited exclusively by Copts. Arabs recruited local
labor from their ranks. The Copts built most of the famous mosques in Cairo as
an example is "Ibn Toloun" mosque which is considered a masterpiece of Islamic
Art.
The Coptic artist disguised crosses and symbols from the Old and New testament
on the walls and wood carvings which would only be discernible to Copts.
During the Ayyubid dynasty (12th century), the situation changed and there was
an erosion of good will. Christianity declined with the coming of the Mamluks
and artistic expres- sion seemed drained of its strength. During medieval
times, churches and monasteries were plundered and destroyed by Bedouin raids.
Not until the middle of the nineteenth century under the leadership of the
great reformer, educator and statesman Pope Kirollos IV (110 Pope of
Alexandria) did the Copts regain a sense of prestige and position. By the
twentieth century The Higher Institute of Coptic Studies was founded in an
attempt to restore a sense of religious identity and to preserve the Coptic
artistic heritage. Also under the enlightened leadership and spirituality of
Pope Kirollos VI (116 Pope of Alexandria), the Church entered into ecumenical
dialogues and took its place on boards and committees of the World Council of
Churches. Pope Shenouda III (117th Pope of Alexandria) is the Coptic Church
leader since 1971 until present.
Pope Shenouda was born in 1923 and has pursued both an ascetic and scholarly
life. He joined the monastery of Suryan at Wadi-EI Natrun (Egypt) in 1954 and
subsequently lived as a hermit in several monastic centers in the western
desert of Egypt. He was ordained in 1962 as Bishop of higher Theological
studies. He is also the author of several books and a large number of articles
on spirituality and theology. Pope Shenouda takes a special interest in social
services for the cornmunity especially in the Sunday school movement.